Meg Lanning, the Australian women's captain, will take a big step into a male bastion this summer when she joins the Channel Nine commentary team.

Although women have been involved in cricket coverage in presenting roles, ball-by-ball commentary and special comments has been a men's domain for Nine.

Meg Lanning. Photo: Getty Images

That will change when Lanning, 22, calls alongside the likes of Mark Taylor and Ian Chappell for the domestic one-day tournament, the Matador BBQs Cup, next month. If that goes well, Nine's plan is for the Southern Stars captain to commentate on the men's Twenty20 international games between Australia and South Africa in November.

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Lanning said she hoped her experience with Nine would open the way for more female voices to be heard on cricket.

"It's an exciting opportunity to do something a little bit different ... I watch a lot of men's and women's cricket so I feel like I really know the game and I've got a little bit to give there," said Lanning, an admirer of Shane Warne's commentary. "We understand the game well and we can do a good job so hopefully me getting involved will start something off."

Nine's head of sport, Steve Crawley, said Lanning was the right person at the right time to venture into the commentary box because she has earned respect through her performances, reads the game well and can speak about it with authority. The move coincides with a public awakening to the success of the Southern Stars.

The move also enhances Lanning's reputation as a groundbreaker. When she was 14, she became the first girl to break into an Associated Public Schools first XI, for Carey Grammar. This year she became the youngest Australian, male or female, to captain her country and led the side to a third consecutive World Twenty20 title in Bangladesh. She is the No.1-ranked Twenty20 batter in the world and blasted a record 126 from 65 balls during that tournament.

"Everyone asks about adding a female to commentary … and I've always been very aware that it will eventually happen, don't force it. It's got to be right, so Meg came along with a wonderful attitude to her cricket, a wonderful reputation and style of play. Immediately you could tell she was special off the field and on the field," Crawley said.

"We've had some discussions with her and everything just sounds right. Now we'll do some Matador stuff and if both sides are happy with that, we'll work out what's next. We'd hope it's good enough to have a look at the South Africa tour in November, which will again depend on her availability and how we both handle this first step.

"The Australian team is the best in the world, they've won everyone's respect, and she's got a vibrancy about her, too. The majority of our commentators are like her - they've captained Australia or vice-captained Australia. You'd like to think one day Michael Clarke will be sitting up there, he's got the pedigree for it and so does she."

Cricket Australia has been in talks with Nine about how to bring more women into the coverage of men's cricket. The Big Bash League, for which Channel Ten made Mel McLaughlin a prominent host, is seen as a powerful vehicle to attract women and girls to watch the game while the success of the Southern Stars appears to have inspired them to play it. According to the recent National Cricket Census, female participation grew by 39 per cent in 2013-14, and 22 per cent of cricket participants are female compared with 10 per cent a decade ago.

Nine made an ill-fated attempt to bring a woman into the commentary box in the 1980s when it used actress Kate Fitzpatrick, who had no cricket background. Since then, former players Melanie Jones, a regular caller of women's games for ESPN, and Lisa Sthalekar have had guest stints but none has been a fully fledged member of the commentary team. Dual international Ellyse Perry is contracted to Fox Sports, but it no longer has rights to Australian cricket.

"I would like to think we have all moved on a long way since [the 80s]. I think only good can come out of this," Crawley said.

Cricket Australia's general manager of marketing and communications, Ben Amarfio, described Lanning as a trailblazer. "We're delighted that Nine's giving Meg an opportunity in a commentary role," he said.

"We want cricket to be a sport for all Australians so it's important that we reflect that in everything we do, including our broadcast of the game."

Lanning on Wednesday led the Southern Stars to a Twenty20 series victory over Pakistan on the Gold Coast, having completed a clean sweep of the one-day international series.

51 comments

Seriously, why bother.It will be a huge failure. We all know it.

Commenter

James

Date and time

September 03, 2014, 5:33PM

Full points for the optimism there, mate.

Commenter

Padrino

Location

Ellivarray

Date and time

September 03, 2014, 8:11PM

There will be failure in the Ch9 commentary box, and it will have nothing to do with Meg Lanning.

It will be more to do with the utterly incompetent commentary from Slater, Nicholas, Warne, Healy, Brayshaw, Hussey and Lee.

Commenter

ST

Location

Sydney

Date and time

September 03, 2014, 11:14PM

Nice.I look forward to hearing her in the South Africa T20 games.

Commenter

AdamBoy64

Date and time

September 03, 2014, 5:47PM

I wish Meg well and expect her to do a good job.I suspect that the absence of female commentary might have been caused by something as simple as the small number of women who had played cricket, were good behind a microphone and were interested in becoming a commentator. If you wait for those stars to align, it would be an exceedingly small pool of talent upon which to draw.

Commenter

CarlT

Location

crazy old cat man

Date and time

September 03, 2014, 6:18PM

The glass ceiling has NOTHING to do with being female. It's about hearing from experts...those who've played the game at the highest levels (ie. Shield or National). Not all ex players can commentate well, but they understand the intricacies and what happens on the ground.

I wish Meg well, but I want to hear from people who can give me insight as to what it's like in the middle at elite levels. Given women's cricket is currently below grade standard, she offers nothing beyond what I've experienced myself.

Commenter

Danger

Date and time

September 03, 2014, 7:01PM

You say commentary is all about hearing from those who play at the highest levels. She plays for the national team and is the no. 1 ranked 20/20 batter in the world. These are the 'highest levels" you speak of. Then you go on to say that she could offer you nothing you haven't already experienced yourself. So you have represented your country and have been ranked no. 1 in the world? If so, then I'd really like to hear more about your credentials

Commenter

janeygotagun

Date and time

September 03, 2014, 7:49PM

I can't agree with that at all. Some of the best commentators have not played the game at the highest levels, or at least have played very little. I'd rather listen to McGilvray, Martin-Jenkins, Neville Oliver or Tim Lane over almost anyone in the Nine box. There are certain things only a player can get across, but a lot that keen minds and eyes can comment on without having played at a high level.

All of that said, Lanning has played at the highest level available to her. And done it well, so I don't see you have a valid criticism there.

Commenter

TimF

Date and time

September 03, 2014, 8:07PM

janey....you've ignored the key point of my comment....unfortunately, the current standard of women's cricket is below men's grade cricket. That means it is only "at the highest level" if you ignore the men's game. ie. Meg and her peers have excelled in their field, but are really still park cricketers.A quick illustration - the fastest EVER women's bowler (Cath Fitzpatrick) reached 125kmh. Very few in the men's game are below 130kmh.

As for me, I've played with and against guys who represented Aust - and the gap between me and them is HUGE! They understand the game in a way I don't, and Meg is at my level - hence my comment that she tells me what I already know.

Commenter

Danger

Date and time

September 03, 2014, 8:15PM

Jim Maxwell is one of the greatest commentators to grace the airways and his experience is limited to grade cricket so your argument is erroneous in that respect, Danger. That said, I'm not holding my breath with Ms Lanning...